Upper Herring Lake

If you are getting ready to fish Upper Herring Lake, keep the first plan simple. This lake is in Benzie County. It covers about 554 acres. The deepest recorded spot is 25 feet. On a first trip, I would use the wind, water color, visible cover, and any signs of bait to decide where to spend time on Upper Herring Lake.

Fishing at Upper Herring Lake

Transitions usually beat featureless water. Look for an edge that gives fish cover, food, and a quick route to a different depth.

In spring, check warming flats beside a quick depth change. During summer, fish the hours and depths with the best temperature and oxygen. In fall, follow bait as cooling water makes more of the lake comfortable again.

At Upper Herring Lake, I would give the first three stops different jobs. One should test shallow cover, one should test a clean edge, and one should test deeper water. That tells us more than making the same cast in three places that only look different from above.

About This Water

A lake-specific profile for Upper Herring Lake in Benzie County reports a fisheries survey from 2015 and vegetation coverage around 0.9 percent. That combination gives us a more useful picture than the lake name alone: it is a mapped basin with both biological sampling and measured plant habitat.

Fish Species

The current record for Upper Herring Lake in Benzie County lists Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Gar, Mimic Shiner, Northern Longear Sunfish, and Northern Pike, along with 10 additional recorded species. That is a starting point, not a promise that every species is common in every season or every part of the basin. For largemouth bass, compare shallow cover with the first firm edge before assuming the fish moved deep. Smallmouth bass make rock, harder bottom, windblown points, and offshore edges worth extra time. A small jig is a clean way to locate the active panfish depth.

Use terminal tackle strong enough for the target without making every presentation bulky. For fish going back, quick hook removal and steady horizontal support matter more than a long photo session.

How I Would Fish It

• Check fresh water. Inflow can add oxygen, color, current, and food, especially after rain or during summer heat.
• Compare inside and outside edges. Fish may tuck deep into cover under bright skies and slide to the outer edge when light fades.
• Downsize before giving up. A smaller profile can turn followers or light bites into hooked fish without forcing a complete location change.
• Use contrast with purpose. Natural colors fit clear water, while stronger contrast helps fish locate a lure in stain or heavy vegetation.
• Mark the exact clue. Remember the depth and habitat, not merely the place where the fish happened to bite.

The goal is not constant motion. It is purposeful movement. Stay when a spot shows forage, fish, or repeatable habitat, and leave when it offers nothing but hope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start fishing?

Begin quietly around the closest quality cover. If it does not produce, move outward to the first break and watch for suspended bait before heading elsewhere.

When should I change spots?

If Upper Herring Lake is not showing bait, bites, followers, or healthy cover after a fair try, change depth or move to a different type of water. Do not stay put only because the spot looks good.

What should I check before the trip?

Check the current Michigan regulations for the exact species and water, then look at wind, temperature, and recent rain. Conditions can matter as much as the season printed on the calendar.